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Home > Archive > 2006-07 Season > Match Reports > Brigg Town (30.09.06)

2006-2007 Season

Match Reports

Bamber Bridge 2 Brigg Town 3

Northern Premier League 1st Division

at Irongate

Saturday 30th September 2006

By Dave Rowland

North Lincolnshire side Brigg Town extended their unbeaten run to three games after overcoming their Lancashire hosts by 3-2 at Irongate. Bamber Bridge continued their recent trend of outplaying their opponents only to squander the points due to dreadful finishing. Missing the proverbial barn-door from five yards, constantly came to mind, especially in the second-half when so many chances went begging.

Bamber Bridge were hoping to maintain the form which had seen them take a point at Cammell Laird during the week when a last minute goal by the Birkenhead club had robbed them of a deserving victory. Meanwhile, Brigg Town were hoping to extend their unbeaten run to three games following a 1-0 win at home to Skelmersdale United on the previous Saturday and a scoreless draw at Shepshed Dynamo during the week.

There was three changes to Andy Whittaker’s line-up which started the game at Cammell Laird. Robin Myers returned at full-back replacing Allan Fleming, Jamie Squires took over from the suspended Ross Bain in the centre of defence and Ryan Salmon replaced Neil Spencer at centre-forward.

The visitors were into their stride first, when, and straight from the kick-off, John Borland shot just wide after Craig Lill had forced his way through the home defence.

Not to be outdone, the homesters responded quickly and Ryan Salmon came close with two half-chances. His first effort was blocked following some good approach play by midfielders Danny Mahoney and Steve Brown and then he saw his header fly over the crossbar from a Brown corner-kick.

The game really came to life after 11 minutes with each side grabbing a goal apiece.

An Alex Porter corner evaded the ‘Zebras’ rearguard and Bridge midfielder Steve Brown fired home a low shot from the right hand edge of the penalty box to give Town goalkeeper Damian Steer little chance. The visitors responded immediately and equalised straight from the re-start when Borland lofted the ball in towards Paul Grimes who lobbed over home goalkeeper David Newnes and into the empty net on 12 minutes.

The set-back though, seemed to stir Bamber Bridge into action and some fine inventive play by Danny Mahoney and Steve Brown kept the visitors continually on the back foot. Porter and King were also menacing down the left flank as the visitors looked like they were about to be overwhelmed.

It was no surprise therefore, when the Irongate side got their noses back in front when on 32 minutes, man-of-the-match Steve Brown, carved his way through a static ‘Zebras’ defence and placed a fine low shot past Steer’s outstretched hands for his second goal of the game.

Salmon should have increased Brig’s lead on 39 minutes when he scuffed his shot wide of the mark when well placed. This was the prelude to a succession of missed opportunities as the half-time whistle approached. Noon shot wide twice, first from a Brown cross, and then blazed over a Porter pass from close in on goal. When Salmon did eventually find the net, the goal was ruled out for offside.

Bamber Bridge totally dominated the second period, but just as they have done in so many games this season, they once again pressed the self-destruct button.

Playing with great resolution, the home team tore into their visitors with a bombardment of crosses by King and Porter from the left and from the immaculate Steve Brown on the right. At this stage there was little seen of the visitors as an attacking force and they hung on grimly as the tidal wave threatened to wash them away.

Brig substitute Greg Brickell played Salmon in on goal after 50 minutes but the young striker sliced his shot hopelessly wide with Steer exposed at his near post. Steer came to his side’s rescue shortly afterwards denying Brickell when bravely diving at the in-rushing strikers feet after yet another telling ball from Brown which had unlocked the ‘Zebras’ defence.

The visitors broke on 69 minutes, and, out-of-the-blue, pulled the sucker punch on their opponents after surviving the constant barrage of missed opportunities by the Lancashire side.

Karl Slack found room on the right and his well directed pass put in long-serving Brigg Town veteran Simon Roach who made no mistake firing home from close range. The home side were stunned but worse was to follow.

The goal galvanised the visitors and following another flurry of poor marksmanship by the home team they won the game with a penalty in the 89th minute after Bamber Bridge full-back Jimmy King needlessly upended Steve Housham just inside the area.

Housham dusted himself down and confidently fired home the resultant spot-kick, powerfully blasting home past Newnes.

Bamber Bridge: Newnes, Myers, King, Squires, K Brown, Reynolds, S Brown, Mahoney (Fletcher 45mins), Salmon, Noon (Brickell 61mins), Porter. Unused Sub : Ince

Goals: Brown (11, 32 mins)

Attendance: 157